The Prindle 19 is with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
5.8 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 18.5′, the Prindle 19 tops out around 5.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √18.5′ LWL = 5.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Comfort Ratio
1.8
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
4.68
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
5.8kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
3lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
1.8
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
4.68
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Prindle 19 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Menger Cat 19
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Prindle 19.
| Prindle 19 | Henley 20 | Menger Cat 19 | Supercat 19 | Thom Cat 19 | Weta 44 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 19.2 | 19.3 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 |
| LWL | 18.5 | 16.5 | 18.4 | 18.8 | 18.4 | — |
| Beam | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 11.5 |
| Displacement | 385 | 1 | 2 | 375 | 2 | 264 |
| Ballast | — | 300 | 600 | — | 600 | — |
| Sail Area | 247 | 179 | — | 260 | 270 | 123 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | — | 326 | — | — | — |
| SA/Disp | — | 25.4 | — | — | 21.3 | 48.1 |
| Bal/Disp | — | 25.0 | 20.7 | — | — | — |
| Comfort | 1.8 | 6.7 | — | 1.9 | 15.1 | — |
| Capsize | 4.68 | 3.01 | — | 4.44 | 2.25 | — |
| Hull Speed | 5.8 | 5.4 | — | 5.8 | 5.8 | — |